I’ve been very fortunate in my life both professionally and personally. What I cherish the most is my family. I’ve been lucky to marry a wonderful woman who happens to be Portuguese. This introduced me to Portuguese culture and Portuguese cuisine.
My in-laws live about 15 minutes away from us so naturally, we visit them very often. Yes, I know what you think, but contrary to popular belief, I really love my in-laws. My mother-in law is truly extraordinary women. She is the most energetic, resilient and healthiest person I know. As an emigrant in new country, she went through hell raising five amazing kids and she has never given up…… she is my inspiration.
So, what her secret?… well, for one, she is very strict with her fitness. Mama Maria goes for 2 hours walk every morning (rain or shine, no exceptions) starting at 5 am. Like most grammas, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen. She is a great cook, a huge fan of Dr. Oz and his healthy diet recipes. Although, she never follows those recipes 100%, she put her own spin on how to make them even better and healthier. That’s right, I said it…. Portuguese woman always know best …. and thanks to that, I don’t ever need to use Google, I just ask my wife (but that the story for another post).
Mama Maria finally decided to share some of her famous and delicious recipes. This is a huge news as she does not like to reveal her secrets (trust me, it wasn’t easy). I hope you like them as much as I do.
Classic Blueberry Bran Muffins
Classic Bran Muffins are everybody’s favourite. Mama Maria makes them every second day for a snack or dessert and Papa Guiomar (my father in law) can’t get enough of them. This is, by far my favourite healthy snack. She uses fresh blueberries and there is no sugar.
Cream Cheese Dip
Mama can’t never make enough of this dip. It’s usually gone way before dinner starts. I love it with crackers and veggies as I’m not big fan of potato chips. It also makes a great spread for a sandwich or a topping for dry fish. This is a simple and easy, yet very tasty recipe.
Chicken cutlets by Anna
My wife Anna is a great cook and chicken cutlets are one of my favourite dishes she makes. To say that they are out of this world amazing would be a huge understatement. Chicken breast cutlets are always a good idea for dinner. They taste good and are easy to make.